The Emirates News Agency reported that the fourth edition of the Arabic Poetry Forum took place in the Nigerian capital under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture organised the event, which featured poetry readings and discussions as part of a wider initiative to expand Arabic literary presence across Africa. Attendance included Nigerian government officials along with academics and ambassadors who engaged with the presented works.
Her Excellency Hannatu Musa Musawa, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, joined Professor Mohammed Rabi Saad, dean of the College of Languages and Linguistics at Bayero University Kano, and Professor Ahmed Rabeh Abdulrahman, head of the Arabic Language Department at Kaduna State University. Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Yaqouti, president of the Academic Society for Arabic Language and Literature in Nigeria, also participated alongside several Arab ambassadors to Nigeria, university professors and a large audience of poetry enthusiasts. The forum’s general coordinator, Dr. Omar Adam Mohammad, opened proceedings by expressing appreciation for the Ruler of Sharjah’s support and the department’s role in advancing the programme.
These Arabic Poetry Fora in Africa follow directives from the Ruler of Sharjah aimed at supporting the language’s dissemination and strengthening its poetic traditions on the continent. The events function as platforms to highlight classical Arabic poetry talents while establishing connections that advance Arab culture and its contributions to human development, according to the Sharjah Department of Culture. Such gatherings have occurred in multiple nations, building on earlier cycles that involved more than 200 poets across 18 previous forums.
Professor Mohammed Rabi Saad stated that since its launch the forum in Nigeria has served as a living space for creativity that has hosted young voices, discovered promising talents and opened doors for the Arabic language to all who love the word. He added that the forum is not merely a cultural event but a confident step toward reinforcing the Arabic language’s presence in Nigeria as one of culture, taste and beauty rather than instruction alone. Saad further noted that the gathering has helped solidify bridges of affection and cultural cooperation between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates while creating fresh opportunities with Sharjah, now a radiating centre for Arabic and a beacon of thought in the Arab and Islamic worlds.
The Sharjah Department of Culture has extended the initiative to countries including Ivory Coast, South Sudan, Niger, Mali, Chad, Guinea, Benin and Senegal, with the fourth cycle concluding events in various capitals throughout 2025. Earlier editions, such as the third forum in Nigeria in 2024, featured 14 poets and emphasised themes of love, hope and homeland through original compositions. Preparations for a fifth series of forums across nine African nations began in mid-2026 under the same patronage, continuing the pattern of literary exchange and talent development.
Coordinators from participating African states have reported increased applications for the forums, with Nigerian entries alone surpassing prior combined totals in some cycles, according to updates from the Sharjah Department of Culture. The programme includes displays of poetry publications issued by the department, providing access to works that encourage younger audiences to explore Arabic literature. This sustained effort reflects Sharjah’s established role in fostering literary ties between the Arab world and African communities through structured cultural platforms.
